Details emerge about missing Fort Morgan teen's boyfriend in court

Suspect's bond reduced to $75,000

STERLING — The bond for the boyfriend of missing Fort Morgan teen Kayla Chadwick was lowered Thursday in Logan County District Court. Eighteen-year-old Ivan Torralba, of Fort Morgan, faces charges of tampering with physical evidence, attempting to influence a public servant and four counts of first-degree perjury.

Attorneys disclosed scraps of information about Torralba detailing his personal life, criminal history and the grand jury investigation against him before the judge moved discussion to a conference room.

When they emerged, Torralba's $250,000 bond was reduced to $75,000 and the court had set a future status conference for Jan. 24, 2013.

Kayla Chadwick, 18, was last seen in late March after an argument with Torralba. A grand jury convened to investigate her disappearance and later found there was probable cause to believe Torralba had interfered with the investigation by destroying, tampering or removing evidence. In this case, according to court arguments, the grand jury found evidence the defendant may have moved or hidden a gun used as evidence.

They indicted Torralba, and he was arrested Nov. 8.

Defense attorney Thor Bauer requested a bond reduction, citing the suspect's local ties to northeast Colorado, his low financial means and the fact that the top charges he faces – the perjury counts – are only a class 4 felony.

He described Torralba as a lifelong Colorado resident, born in Greeley, whose whole family lives within either Weld County or Morgan County.

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Torralba graduated from Fort Morgan High School with honors, he added, held a position as a welder at Delta Oil Field and takes care of his 13-year-old sister when his mother works night shifts.

Assistant District Attorney Brittny Lewton objected to a reduction, arguing that Torralba had a lengthy juvenile criminal history, including once being caught possessing a weapon on school property, two prior probation violations and three minor in possession charges.

She also cited the gravity of the allegations against Torralba and the danger he posed to the community.

“He lied to a grand jury,” she explained. “The proof of that is fairly significant.”

Bauer said the defendant had been “completely cooperative” with investigators and had made several statements.

Because the information involved in the grand jury investigation is secret – and because the investigation is ongoing – Singer requested additional information about Torralba outside of the courtroom. The exact reason for the bond reduction wasn't disclosed after the conference, but Lewton said $250,000 was a "very high bond" for a class 4 felony and that she wasn't surprised by Singer's decision.

Torralba would also be monitored with a GPS tracker as a condition of the bond.

Though the investigation continues, evidence has not yet shown that Torralba committed a crime against Kayla Chadwick or is linked to her disappearance.

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